The Complete Emergency Preparedness Guide — How to Survive Earthquakes, Fires, and Floods

Why Prepare for Disasters?

Most of us believe “it won’t happen to me.” That belief is one of the most well-documented psychological biases — and one of the main reasons disaster damage is worse than it needs to be.

Optimism bias: The conviction that bad things won’t happen to us personally.

The reality:

The US experiences approximately 10,000 significant thunderstorms, 1,000+ tornadoes, and dozens of major earthquakes every year
Roughly 350,000 residential fires are reported annually in the US
Climate change is intensifying flooding events and hurricane intensity

Preparedness isn’t about living in fear — it’s about living with peace of mind.

Disaster Action Guides

Earthquake

During strong shaking:

Drop, Cover, Hold On — get under a desk or table; protect your head and neck (use a bag or pillow if no table)
Move away from windows, tall furniture, and appliances
If cooking with gas, turn it off if you can safely reach it
Stay in place until shaking stops

After shaking stops:

Turn off gas if you smell a leak
Check exits (doorframes can warp)
Do NOT use elevators — use stairs to evacuate
If you are near the coast, move to high ground immediately (tsunami hazard)

If outdoors: Protect your head, move away from buildings and utility poles, get to open ground.

Fire

When you detect a fire:

Evacuate immediately — do not go back for valuables
Before opening a door, check the handle with the back of your hand (if hot, do not open)
Stay low in smoke (smoke rises — cleaner air is near the floor)
Seal door gaps with clothing or towels if you can’t escape
Do NOT use elevators

Fire response sequence: Shout “Fire!” → Activate the pull station or alarm → Call 911 → Evacuate.

When calling 911: Give your location (building name, floor, unit number) and describe where the fire is.

Flood

When a flood watch or warning is issued:

Monitor NOAA Weather Radio and your local emergency alert system
Move your vehicle to higher ground
Never enter basements or underground parking structures

During active flooding:

Stay away from rivers, streams, and drainage channels
If water enters your home, move to an upper floor
6 inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet; 12 inches can sweep away a small vehicle

Basement and ground-floor residents: Evacuate before flood conditions arrive — do not wait.

Severe Storm / Tornado

Close and secure all windows and exterior doors
Move to the lowest floor; interior rooms or hallways away from windows
Do NOT shelter under highway overpasses (wind funnels)
Secure outdoor furniture, potted plants, and signs before a storm arrives
Prepare for power outages: flashlight, extra batteries, portable charger

The 72-Hour Emergency Kit

The 72 hours after a disaster is the critical window before emergency services can reliably reach everyone.

Food and Water

Item	Quantity
Water	1 gallon per person per day × 3 days = 3 gallons
Ready-to-eat meals / canned food	9 servings × number of people
Energy bars / crackers	3-day supply
Manual can opener	1
Infant formula	If applicable

Storage: Cool, dark location; check expiration dates annually.

First Aid Supplies

Antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, adhesive bandages
Pain reliever (ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
Anti-diarrheal medication and antacid
Antihistamine (for allergies)
Personal prescription medications (minimum 1-week supply)
Masks and disposable gloves

Emergency Tools

Flashlight + extra batteries (or hand-crank flashlight)
Whistle (for signaling rescuers)
Portable battery pack (phone charging)
Battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio (NOAA)
Cash in small bills (ATMs and card readers may be offline)
Paper maps of your area
Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife

Copies of Important Documents

Identification, insurance policies, bank account numbers
Store in a sealed waterproof bag or a cloud backup

Family Emergency Communication Plan

For when direct contact fails:

Two meeting locations: One near your home; one farther away in case the neighborhood is evacuated
Out-of-area contact: Designate one person outside your city or region to relay messages (long-distance calls often connect when local lines are jammed)
Know your children’s school plan: Verify the school’s emergency procedures and pick-up protocol
Memorize key numbers: Know 2–3 phone numbers by heart — you may not have your phone

Emergency apps:

FEMA App: Disaster alerts, shelter locations, safety tips
Red Cross Emergency: First aid guidance, disaster preparedness checklists
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Built into all US smartphones — make sure it is not disabled in your settings

Go-Bag (Evacuation Bag)

The bag you grab and carry out the door when you need to leave immediately.

72-hour single-person go-bag:

Item	Notes
Water — 1 liter	More = heavier; supplement with purification tablets
Energy bars / MRE	3-day supply
First aid kit	Compact
Flashlight + batteries
Portable battery pack
Whistle + multi-tool
Change of clothes + rain poncho
Cash	$50–$ 100 in small bills
Document copies
Personal medications
Phone + charging cable

Target bag weight: Under 20–25 lbs for an adult.

Basic First Aid

CPR: Brain damage begins 4–6 minutes after cardiac arrest.

Check for responsiveness (tap shoulders, call out)
Call 911 (or have someone call while you begin)
30 chest compressions (2 inches deep, 100–120/minute)
2 rescue breaths (if trained)
Repeat until AED arrives or emergency services take over

AED locations: Required in most public buildings in the US. Search “AED near me” on Google Maps or the PulsePoint app.

Handling Power and Water Outages

During a power outage:

Use flashlights (candles significantly increase fire risk)
Minimize refrigerator opening (food is safe for 4–6 hours; frozen food up to 48 hours in a full freezer)
Check medications that require refrigeration (insulin, etc.)
Put your phone in low-power mode

During a water outage:

Fill bathtubs with water (for sanitation use)
Use stored emergency water for drinking and cooking
Minimize cooking to conserve water

Emergency preparedness takes a single afternoon. Start today: store one gallon of water per person and enough shelf-stable food for three days.

OIYO Editorial